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Re: What start-up equipment to buy?

Wow, toekneepea pretty much said it, all things in bee keeping are personnal choices, you need to do some studying and learning to decide what you want to work with. Read some of the post in this forum and you will see a wide variety of opinions and good answers, The differences between 8 and 10 frame or between deep or med. boxs pretty much boil down to weight, as far as what type of foundation some outfits run all you asked about and maybe some not even named yet(LOL)Starter kits are mostly a mix of deeps and mediums with various tops and bottoms so again its your choice. Best advise I can give is find a local keeper and or club to mentor you and to give local advise. Jim

Re: What start-up equipment to buy?

I went through the same thing this past fall when I ordered my equipment. I purchased the bulk of my equipment from Brushy Mountain because their website shows if item is in or out of stock. Also if you join a local bee club and they send a list of first year beekeepers to Brushy Mountain shipping on your first order is free. I went with 10 frames because I can lift the weight, and the hives are going into my backyard( I have no plans on moving them). I picked the Pierco frames for there ease of use, no assembly required. Every beginners kit I looked at had one or two items I didn't like, so I ordered everything individually. I got the best equipment that I could afford.

Re: What start-up equipment to buy?

there is no correct answer as it is what works best for people. I inspected bees 3 years and kept bees for 50(25 commercial) I would recommend med supers for brood and extracting. I am old fashioned and use wired fdn. there is no place in the beehive for plastic in my opinion. med equip requires more equip and wired frames take a lot of time but the outcome is a quality product. as I said to each his own. best of luck

Re: What start-up equipment to buy?

You could also consider plastic boxes rather than wood.
A good source for plastic boxes is Bees Forever Plastics. 530-701-3505
Price of boxes are $17.25 for up to 42. They are all deep boxes.
Price break for larger quantities.
They are ready to go right off the truck. No painting or assembly required.

Re: What start-up equipment to buy?

>Eight frame vs ten frame/ deep vs medium supers
My recommendation: To minimize injuries from lifting and make life simple, buy all eight frame medium boxes. Pick a manufacturer who is reasonable in price and shipping to your location.

>Which foundation? (wax, wired wax, duraguilt, pierco, or foundationless
My recommendation: If you don't mind plastic, buy all Mann Lake PF120 frame/foundation so you don't have to learn to (and find time to) build frames, wire foundation etc. These have been the most successful at getting small cell comb right off the bat in my experience. If you don't like the idea of plastic, then use foundationless. Certainly foundationless is the most appealing to me as you can't get any more natural than that. I would buy the wedge top bar frames and rotate the wedge 90 degrees so it makes a comb guide.

>Is there a specific beginners kit that you found effective for the price?

Re: What start-up equipment to buy?

box sizes? that's a personal preference item, I use 8 frame deeps but am changing to 8 frame deeps on bottom single box with all 8 frame mediums above.

I use plastic foundation, but bees like foundationless or wax foundation much better. I'll be changing to foundationless, at least some, this year. I am lazy and don't want to spend the time to wire or fishing line in wax so am choosing foundationless as frames need replacing.

get a box or two more than you think you need and get an extra top and bottom boards. You'll be glad you did.

Get at least one queen excluder, you'll end up needing them but maybe not for what you might think. They come in handy for different reasons.

And oh, a map gas torche really makes lighting the smoker a breeze!

"A good day is when no one shows up and you don't have to go anywhere." - Burt Shavitz (Burt's Buzz)

Re: What start-up equipment to buy?

8 vs 10 frame weight
foundation - would give Duragilt to someone I do NOT like, Pierco works well for me last 6 years
beginners kits - have junk you will never need and vastly overpriced
most important find mentor or local bee club
get just what you need -
bottom board, supers with frames for brood and honey, cover, smoker, hive tool and veil/suit

Re: What start-up equipment to buy?

As a fellow newbee, I am currently in to process of building/buying/sourcing my hardware. My swarm traps will get set out this weekend!

Build:

Build two double-deep hives (10 frame Langs) per plans on this site. Inner and outer covers, bottom board and boxes. One is completed, one yet to go.

Build five or six, 5-frame nucs to use as swarm traps. (I am willing to go "fishing" for my bees... ...I'd prefer a feral or locally overwintered queen to a California girl in a package). I finished two last night.

I'll build (or buy) mediums as needed to super.

Buy:

Beekeepers Jacket

Smoker

Hive tool

Queen Excluders

Frames (I went with foundationless, I might buy 20 or so with foundation to help force straight combs.)

Swarm Lure (off of BjornBees on Ebay)

Blue Nitrile gloves. Two-layers at a time. I didn't like the leather ones at the shop... ...seemed too clumsy. Most old hands at it don't wear gloves anyway and I don't mind the occasional sting.